Ben Johnson had already been heralded as the best offensive coordinator in the league, and it ultimately landed him the head coach position with the Chicago Bears. Aaron Glenn also departed for the New York Jets after excelling as the defensive coordinator.

Teddy Bridgewater did next to nothing for the Lions, but the sheer ability to be an NFL quarterback again clearly earned him favor. Now he wants to turn that into a reality.

Minnesota Vikings signal caller Teddy Bridgewater seeks NFL return

Last season Teddy Bridgewater operated as a volunteer head coach for Miami Northwestern high school. He took the kids to the state tournament and ultimately won the championship. Then he dealt with ridiculous politics and decided the NFL was his home.

Breaking News from @the_portal_305 …. @teddyb_h2o Head Coach of Miami Northwestern High is returning to the NFL for 2025 football season… After winning the State Championship in his first season as Head Coach..

Good Luck 5 pic.twitter.com/k7AhpzVq04

— The Portal (@ThePortal305) August 4, 2025

It’s beyond admirable that Bridgewater wanted to return to his alma mater and make an impact. That could have likely continued, but his suspension and the parental fallout from something so laughable clearly changed his direction.

The former Minnesota Vikings QB will now seek a return to the NFL this season, and at 32 years old, there’s no reason he can’t operate in a backup capacity. During 2023 the Lions utilized Bridgewater in a single game while last year he didn’t get into action.

Veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater is visiting Tampa today, and is expected to sign with the Buccaneers, per sources.

The Buccaneers will be Bridgewater’s 8th NFL team, and his third NFC South team to go along with the Saints and Panthers. pic.twitter.com/nOEgJOx2xh

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2025

Adam Schefter is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to be the new home of the former Vikings quarterback. The deal could get done as soon as Tuesday.

Back in 2022 Bridgewater played five games for the Miami Dolphins and started a pair of contests. He has 79 games (65 starts) of NFL action under his belt, and represents a high quality backup option both from a talent and intelligence standpoint.

Related: Insider Tabs Surprise as QB2 for Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings still don’t have a set QB2 and could be in play for his services. It remains to be seen where Bridgewater signs or ultimately lands. It’s also beyond disappointing that his exposure to the high school ranks was so soured over unnecessary consternation.

Thus began the Teddy Bridgewater Era in Minnesota. His reign lasted only two years, after a torn ACL lit his 2016 on fire and never gave him a chance to spread his QB1 wings as general manager Rick Spielman had intended, when the Vikings drafted him.

In recent years, however, Teddy has been in and out of the NFL, in part due to a newfound passion for coaching the game he loves so much. In his first season as a high school coach, at his alma mater, Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern to a Florida Class 3A State Championship.

At just 32-years-old, Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t retired. Right after winning the state title, he signed with the Detroit Lions to backup Jared Goff during the Kitties’ playoff run.

Since then, the 10-year NFL veteran is on record saying he wants to continue playing and coaching. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that will be allowed to happen this season.

Teddy Bridgewater suspended from coaching and not taking it well

According to his own Facebook post, Bridgewater is being suspended as a high school football coach. The official reasoning behind his suspension is distributing illegal benefits to his players. Teddy says he isn’t being suspended by Florida State High School League, though.

Instead, administrators at the high school he coaches for, Miami Northwestern, self-reported the alleged malfeasances, then levied the suspension on Bridgewater themselves. And if you believe the former MN Vikings QB, the entire thing is just a coup attempt on his seat as Miami Northwestern’s head football coach.

Damn people done caused all this confusion. Got a phone call tonight and it’s no real investigation going on.. I told you I have to be an employee to be investigated. Now the paperwork thing still stands but there was no investigation… We SELF REPORTED..

Verne and his Admnistrative homeboys want me gone apparently and tried to hire one of my dawgs like bro wasn’t gone lace me up… The suspension came from MNW and it’s impossible to suspend someone who doesn’t work for you. So if im suspended from MNW im free to go to another school of my choice but IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem.

This my last post about this bs.

Teddy Bridgewater Facebook post (embedded above)

In previous posts on his personal Facebook page, Teddy Bridgewater writes about paying for Uber rides and other benefits for his players last season, then asks for others to donate to the cause. Clearly, he wasn’t hiding anything.

Whether or not his actions were technically illegal, we do not know for sure, since his suspension was handed down by the school and not any sort of governing commission. If you ask Teddy, those who reported the QB/HC, and then suspended him, want Bridgewater out. And clearly, he’s not going down without a fight.

Teddy Bridgewater: “What could have been” with Minnesota Vikings

When Teddy Bridgewater was drafted in the 2014 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings organization was in the middle of a major facelift. Rick Spielman had taken full control of the front office, by this time, and just hired Mike Zimmer as the new head coach, earlier that offseason.

Oh, and U.S. Bank Stadium was in full development at this time, after the Wilfs & Co. spent years politicking and jumping through bureaucratic hoops in order to get the massive project fully approved and funded. Still it took snow cave-ins at the Metrodome in order to force the City of Minneapolis’ hand.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Latest Valuation is Astonishing

As we now know, the $1 billion stadium was completed in time for the 2016 NFL season. By then, Teddy had already logged two years as the Minnesota Vikings starter — posting 6,150 yards, 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions on 64.9% passing.

But going into his third year in the league, Bridgewater was showing signs of a young quarterback who was ready to take the next step. He got fans really excited during the Vikings third preseason game that year, when he tossed with ease against the then San Diego Chargers defense, finishing 12-of-16 for 161 yards and a 127.3 passer rating.

Final three plays for Teddy Bridgewater this preseason came Sunday vs. Chargers. Impressive. pic.twitter.com/JwSV3afg5G

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 30, 2016

Unfortunately, shortly after an impressive preseason performance against the Falcons in the Minnesota Vikings’ brand new Zygi Palace, Bridgewater blew out his knee during a reportedly non-contact, and still somewhat mysterious, practice accident just days before the regular season was about to open.

Shortly after, the Vikings traded a future 1st round pick for Sam Bradford, who impressed in Minnesota when healthy, but that wasn’t very often. Bridgewater in returned in 2017 after a year of recovery from his torn ACL, but he never again reached the same QB1 status he had coming out of that 2016 preseason.

Teddy Bridgewater remains a beloved figure around the NFL, and he previously committed to continuing his playing career, even while coaching his former high school team. Teddy “Two Gloves” isn’t on an NFL roster as of now, but this suspension could make it more likely he’s present at training camp somewhere by next week.

For now, the Vikings have Brett Rypien on the depth chart as the QB2. While the nephew of former Washington QB Mark Rypien is a 28-year-old veteran, he’s only made four starts in his NFL career and he’s not expected to be the final answer as McCarthy’s backup.

Top Remaining Minnesota Vikings QB options for 2025

At some point between now and the start of training camp, the Minnesota Vikings will be adding another veteran quarterback to the roster. The move is expected to happen at some point after April 28 at 3 p.m. CDT, when free agency pickups will no longer play into their 2026 comp pick formula.

That is unless they decide to trade for their new quarterback, which could be just as likely as the Vikings adding one in free agency. So below, we rank the best remaining QB options for the MN Vikings, with less than two weeks remaining before the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on April 24.

5. Teddy Bridgewater

Who could forget Teddy B? The Vikings’ former first-round pick has bounced around from team to team since suffering his career-altering knee injury in 2016. After spending parts of the past two seasons backing up Jared Goff on the Detroit Lions, the 32-year-old Bridgewater is a free agent again.

He’s not the type of player that will help the Vikings win games by himself, but Bridgewater’s tendency to make the right play while protecting the football could appeal to Kevin O’Connell. Plus, we already know he’ll be great in the locker room and would have no issue teaching young McCarthy everything he needs to know.

The question is, will Bridgewater head back to retirement as he did during the early portion of the 2024 season, or is he open to returning to where his career started?

Related: Rival Execs Continue to Question Minnesota Vikings Power Structure

4. Carson Wentz

This is not a joke. Carson Wentz, a former No. 2 overall pick, finished third in MVP voting in 2017, his second season in the NFL. Yet, after suffering multiple ankle injuries, Wentz’ athletic abilities started to diminish.

The last time we saw Wentz as a consistent starter came in 2022 when he led the Commanders to a 2-5 record while having 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, even though he’s now 32, Wentz got to spend last season as Patrick Mahomes’ primary backup, getting a first-hand experience in Andy Reid’s offense.

If he was good enough to be the top backup for a team attempting to three-peat as Super Bowl champions, Wentz should be good enough to back up McCarthy too. Plus, Wentz’s unique NFL career has seen several ups and downs, which could be a great way for him to relate to Minnesota’s new starter after McCarthy was forced to miss his entire rookie season due to injury.

Related: Sportsbooks Not Buying the Draft Plans Kwesi and the MN Vikings are Selling…

3. Ryan Tannehill

The Vikings made a point to note how they’re keeping the NFL’s compensatory pick formula in mind when shopping for a new backup quarterback. If so, Ryan Tannehill should be seen as a viable option. They’ve even already spoken to him.

He didn’t even play last season, which means the Vikings could sign him without having to worry about their future draft picks being impacted by the NFL’s complicated compensatory pick process.

However, Tannehill’s overall body of work remains impressive enough that the Vikings should have some level of interest in the former Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins starter. He’ll turn 37 before the season kicks off, but Tannehill brings 11 seasons of starting experience to the table.

Known for his success with play-action passing, Tannehill would be stepping into the most high-powered offense he’s ever been a part of. If he’s still interested in playing football, Tannehill should be the one calling the Vikings, not the other way around.

Related: What Does Mel Kiper’s Latest Mock Tell Us About Vikings Draft Plans?

2. Kirk Cousins

Of course Kirk Cousins — who turns 37 in August — needs to be on this list. Sure, he’s being held hostage by the Atlanta Falcons for a full year now, but one of the greatest QBs in Minnesota Vikings history reportedly plans to waive his no-trade clause, after the 2025 NFL Draft ends.

This way, he can avoid future draft night surprises, like what he experienced last year, a month after arriving in Atlanta. Plus, if a trade happens after the draft, that would actually benefit the Vikings since they’re armed with just four selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Trading a 2026 pick for the four-time Pro Bowler shouldn’t be out of the question. Teams may be scared away from Cousins’ $27.5 million salary for 2025, but the Vikings have the advantage of having McCarthy on an affordable rookie deal, allowing them to spend a bit more for a high-quality backup like Cousins.

most accurate QBs when kept clean:

1. Jalen Hurts
2. Jared Goff
3. Gardner Minshew
4. Geno Smith
5. Joe Burrow
6. Sam Darnold
7. Derek Carr
8. Russell Wilson
9. Brock Purdy
10. Kyler Murray
11. Joe Flacco
12. Kirk Cousins
13. Drake Maye
14. Justin Herbert
15. Daniel Jones
16.…

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 12, 2025

Plus, once again, the Vikings already know what type of competitive teammate they’d be adding back into the locker room, and McCarthy getting to see how Cousins prepares week in, week out, could be a valuable lesson that the 22-year-old never forgets.

Yet, if we’re being real, Cousins should be getting a crack at a starting role with a team like the Cleveland Browns. However, after the Browns signed Joe Flacco, they may have closed the door on reuniting Kevin Stefanski with Cousins too. As a result, Cousins coming back to his second home in Minnesota could be the perfect way to close out his career.

Report: Vikings + Kirk Cousins Reunion is Not Out of the Question

1. Aaron Rodgers

Love him or hate him, Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback available. If he’s legitimately interested in joining the Vikings at a reasonable rate, the front office shouldn’t turn down the advances of a four-time NFL MVP.

Rodgers didn’t light it up in his lone season with the New York Jets. But neither did Kirk Cousins, and both players were coming off a torn Achilles. Perhaps another season removed from the season-ending surgery will help Rodgers return to top form.

Either way, Rodgers still didn’t have a terrible season, finishing with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Vikings would likely be thrilled with that type of production, knowing the rest of their roster is in a position to find success.

If the Vikings wanted to know more about how Rodgers operates within a locker room, they could just ask Aaron Jones, his teammate for six seasons in Green Bay. Skeptics may speak to the drama that tends to follow the future Pro Football Hall of Famer, but his former teammates clearly don’t have an issue with him.

Jamien Sherwood is asked what it's like not having Aaron Rodgers around anymore:

"He taught everybody in this building a lot…he helped created a standard for myself and those other guys. He left a mark on all of us." pic.twitter.com/iVa9lPXmnz

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) April 9, 2025

Of course, there’s some downside involved with bringing Rodgers aboard. He’d be signed and expected to start, not operate as a backup to someone who’s never played an NFL down.

Yet, no matter how you feel about the former Packers quarterback, the Vikings would be foolish to turn down someone who has already proven he can win a Super Bowl when they have a roster ready to compete.

Related: Vikings Getting Cocky About Their Medical Staff

Teddy Bridgewater is joining the Minnesota Vikings enemy

Fresh off a high school championship coaching run, Teddy Bridgewater is jumping back into the NFL fray. He teased the desire to return back in November, and brought it up again earlier this month. The Detroit Lions were the last team to employ the former first round pick, and he’s headed back there.

Comeback: High school state championship-winning coach and NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement and is expected to sign with the #Lions, sources tell The Insiders.

Bridgewater appeared on @nflnetwork and revealed his plans to play again. Back to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/McMOR7jELD

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 26, 2024

Bridgewater has not played in the NFL this season after going to coach his alma mater. Last year he appeared in one game for the Detroit Lions but only to take a few kneel downs against the Carolina Panthers.

The last time Bridgewater started was in 2022 for the Miami Dolphins. Across five games he completed 62% of his passes while carrying an even 4/4 TD/INT ratio.

Related: NFL Insider Praises Minnesota Vikings Free Agent Class

Detroit’s only other rostered quarterback is 2023 draft pick Hendon Hooker. He has played in three games this season, completing 6-of-9 passes. Bridgewater immediately gives Dan Campbell a veteran backup option that has familiarity with Ben Johnson’s system.

Coach Campbell on Teddy Bridgewater pic.twitter.com/UEDA77T35q

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 26, 2024

“I’ve been in contact with Teddy for a while. It was something that was always potentially a possibility. We all know what Teddy has been doing down there and giving back to his community. They won a championship down there so his debut at coaching worked out pretty good. To be able to add somebody back here that’s got experience. He’s stayed in shape. He’s been throwing… It just brings a level of professionalism. Veteran presence, somebody that’s great for our team. He’s great for the position.”

Dan Campbell on the addition of Teddy Bridgewater

Minnesota is unlikely to see Bridgewater under center for the Week 18 matchup against Detroit. That game could determine the division, and the number one overall seed in the NFC. Jared Goff should be locked in as he attempts to beat the Vikings for a second time this season.

Related: Seahawks D-Lineman Claims He Only Scraped Sam Darnold’s Facemask… So Let’s Take a Look

It’s pretty crazy for Bridgewater to step down to the high school level and coach, win a championship, and then return to an NFL roster. That’s exactly where we are though.

Fresh off a state championship in his first season leading his alma mater, the NFL itch is still there. It doesn’t appear he wants to give up on either path though.

Former Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater on the comeback path?

Teddy Bridgewater took over as the head coach of Miami Northwestern High School this season. The Bulls finished 12-2 while winning a state title. As he closed in on that reality, Bridgewater suggested he couldn’t wait to return to the NFL. Appearing on The Insiders, he brought it up again.

On The Insiders, here is Teddy Bridgewater dropping the news that he plans to make a return to the NFL now that his HS state title is locked in. pic.twitter.com/6XvfT5Zri8

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 18, 2024

“We’ll see how these next two weeks, week-and-a-half play out. Might be signing with a team and then returning back to coach high school football in February. We’ll see.”

Teddy Bridgewater on what’s next for him (The Insiders)

A bewildered Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport both found themselves in shock with the suggestion from Bridgewater. It’s crazy to go from coaching at the high school level, to replacing an NFL quarterback, then simply returning to coach. Bridgewater doesn’t buy into that though.

“Hey that’s the plan. My team know that’s the plan. We wanted to win a state championship and then coach go back to the league. See what happens, then come back February in the offseason, continue coaching high school football. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Teddy Bridgewater on a return to the NFL (The Insiders)

Again the stunned look on Rapoport’s face says it all. This would truly be a crazy development. However, there are a bunch of awful NFL quarterbacks, and injuries have decimated the position for multiple teams. Bridgewater could be a competent option if he’s ready to go.

nice catch Teddy Bridgewater

📺: #LARvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/MfHUqr8Kzv

— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2024

Bridgewater last played in a game during the 2023 season for the Detroit Lions. His last start came in 2022 for the Miami Dolphins. The former Louisville Cardinals product has played for five teams since leaving the Minnesota Vikings. In 48 games of sporadic action, he owns a 16-21 record with a 67.5 completion percentage and 47-to-25 TD/INT ratio.

Related: Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell Finally Getting the NFL COTY Respect He Deserves…?

This whole story is crazy. Bridgewater winning a state title in year one is already impressive. If he can come back to the league, then return to coach high school football on top of it, things become something of a fairytale.

Minnesota Vikings drafts from 2012-2014

Since the Vikings’ inception into the NFL in 1961, they have always strived to find the best players available during the exciting draft period. Over the years, they have had their share of difficulties, but one period stands out: from 2012 to 2014. During this time, the Vikings secured seven first-round picks, with six of them going on to become big-time contributors both in Minnesota and elsewhere.

The Super Six have all managed to secure Pro Bowl honors at some point in their career, racking up nineteen all-star game appearances between them. Unfortunately, the Vikings haven’t been given much hope for the upcoming campaign and Bovada’s future Super Bowl lines make them +4000 outsiders for the Lombardi next February. However, with a good NFL draft under their belt as well as a bit of luck, anything is possible.

Current manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would have done an excellent job if he managed to draft players as good as these six for the upcoming campaign.

Matt Kalil

In 2012, the Vikings selected offensive tackle, Matt Kalil, as the fourth overall pick in that year’s draft. He proved to be an instant contributor to the playing squad at U.S. Bank Stadium, forming part of the offensive line that led Adrian Peterson to 2,097 rushing yards – just nine yards shy of breaking the NFL record. Thanks to Kalil’s performance, he was selected to the Pro Bowl that season, becoming the first newcomer tackle from the Vikings to do so.

Harrison Smith

In the same draft, Minnesota selected safety, Harrison Smith, with their second first-round pick, selecting him as 29th overall. The former Notre Dame standout also had an early impact on his side’s defense, recording three interceptions and 104 tackles during his rookie season. Since then, he has become one of the best safeties in the league, earning Pro Bowl honors six times during his nine seasons in Minneapolis and securing a legendary status with the franchise.

Xavier Rhodes

The following year, the Vikings utilized their 25th overall pick to select cornerback, Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes became a dominant force during his tenure with the franchise, becoming known as one of the best press corners in the league. He was a key part of the defense that led the Vikings to the NFC North title in 2017 and was selected for Pro Bowl honors that term, as well as the year before and in 2019 before leaving for the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.

Cordarrelle Patterson

In 2013, the Purple People Eaters had three first-round picks for the first time in franchise history, and they used the second of those picks to select wide receiver, Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson was a versatile player, recording 856 receiving yards and four touchdowns during his rookie season. He also became an immediate star on special teams, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns which led him to twice winning the kickoff return yards leader award as well as securing a spot in the all-star game on four separate occasions.

Anthony Barr

The Vikings selected linebacker, Anthony Barr, with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft. Barr instantly became a key piece to his side’s defense, helping lead them to the playoffs that season for just the second time in six years. He was a Pro Bowl selection in four consecutive campaigns between 2015 and 2018 and he established himself as one of the best linebackers in the NFL during that time thanks to his speed, agility, and ability to read plays. His role in the Vikings’ defense went beyond just making tackles and his leadership qualities were just as valuable as his physical exploits and performances, despite his love/hate relationship with the home faithful.

Teddy Bridgewater

After selecting Barr as the ninth overall pick, the Minneapolis outfit used their final first-round pick in 2014 to select quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater had an up-and-down tenure with the Vikings, showing flashes of potential, but dealing with injuries that hindered his development. However, he did lead the Vikings to an improbable playoff appearance in his second season in the league. He too managed to secure Pro Bowl honors following the 2015 campaign, however, that was his only appearance in the all-star game and his career has since fizzled out.

Conclusion

The Minnesota Vikings’ first-round draft picks between 2012 and 2014 proved to be some of the best in their franchise’s history. From Matt Kalil to Teddy Bridgewater, these players helped shape the franchise into a competitive outfit and earned several Pro Bowl honors. Although some have gone their separate ways, their impact in Minnesota will always be remembered and fans can only hope that the Vikings’ future draft picks can emulate their success.

There were some who thought Tua would make his return this weekend. But Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport (both of NFL Network) reported on Wednesday morning that Tagovailoa is unlikely to play vs the Vikings.

Tua is expected, however, to take the practice field today, and could realistically be cleared by Sunday. The Dolphins supposed plan is to give their young QB another week to get right, before activating him.

#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will return to the field and throw today as part of his progression through concussion protocol, sources say. Highly unlikely to play Sunday vs. the #Vikings, but he's headed in the right direction.

More from me and @RapSheet: https://t.co/YJg6ffxNYE pic.twitter.com/jQsrnM8Shz

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 12, 2022

Teddy Questionable too

This update on Tua should have meant that the Vikings can expect Teddy Bridgewater as Miami’s starter. But not so fast. His availability is in question too. Bridgewater got the start for Miami last week, but didn’t make it out of the 1st quarter after suffering his own head injury.

We were told that Bridgewater would have been allowed to return to that game, under previous concussion protocols. Which is why we all assumed he’d be cleared to play, vs the Vikings, by the end of the week. But, the earliest he’s allowed to take the practice field, under current rules, is Thursday.

In the case that neither Teddy nor Tua can go on Sunday, the Miami Dolphins would turn to Skylar Thompson, a 2022 7th-round draft pick. Thompson, according to head coach Mike McDaniel, is the expected starter (at this point). When forced into action last week, Thompson went 19/33 for 166 yards and 1 INT (40-17 loss vs Jets).

From @GMFB: #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will return to practice today, per me and @TomPelissero. What it means… ???????????? pic.twitter.com/A9VxgUV8NH

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 12, 2022

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel says he plans to start Skylar Thompson at QB Sunday vs. Vikings.

If Teddy Bridgewater is cleared from protocol this weekend, he would likely backup Skylar per McDaniel who noted Teddy will be w/ trainers today and potentially limited practice tomorrow.

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 12, 2022

3rd-String Guy?

This is now a really weird situation for the Minnesota Vikings, from a preparation standpoint. It sounds like Tua Tagovailoa could very well be cleared to play, even if the Dolphins are leaning toward resting him one more week.

If cleared, would they really give the ball to Thompson or Bridgewater? Because, should they change their minds, a healthy Tua could present major problems if the Vikings defense is ill-prepared.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Vikings released 10-year veteran tight end, Kyle Rudolph yesterday, in the first of many cap-saving maneuvers we will see them make early this offseason. This is a move that was foreseen by everybody, including Kyle himself, for months.

Rudolph was the most tenured Viking before his dismissal and took to the popular “Players’ Tribune” for an extended goodbye to his former team and fanbase.

Thank you Minnesota!! Although my time as a Viking has come to a close, my time as a MINNESOTAN is just getting started! https://t.co/eb2aP3O4vo

— Kyle Rudolph (@KyleRudolph82) March 2, 2021

Thank you, thank you

Kyle Rudolph thanked the Minnesota Vikings owners and coaches, before telling the fanbase that he won’t be gone long. It’s clear that Kyle and his family have grown roots in Minnesota that they plan on quickly returning to, when his playing career is over.

The former Notre Dame TE also thanked and named a few handfuls of former teammates, starting with his friend Chad Greenway and his career teammate, Harrison Smith.

But when he started listing former QB’s… my interest was peaked.

Guys like Hutch, Jared Allen, Adrian Peterson — the core of one of the great teams in franchise history. Guys like Matt Cassel, straight-up one of the best human beings I’ve ever been around. Ev Griffen, a nine-year teammate and an all-time friend. Guys like Eric Kendricks, an amazing competitor, who lined up against me every day in practice and helped mold me into the player I am.

Guys like Sam Bradford, who never got the credit he deserved, but battled through injury for two years to try to get us over the hump. (I sincerely believe that we win a Super Bowl in 2017 if Sam is healthy. Such an incredibly talented dude, an unreal passer when his body was right.) Guys like Teddy Bridgewater, another crazy-talented quarterback who had some terrible injury luck, but inspired all of us with his determination, and definitely left his mark on this team. Man, just so many guys — I could go on and on.

Kyle Rudolph – Players’ Tribune

Something of nothing?

Go ahead and poo-poo this as much as you want, but Kyle Rudolph is a smart guy. The words he put into this article were carefully and meticulously placed. He absolutely thought about Kirk Cousins, when writing about these other guys and he absolutely knows Kirk has thrown him more touchdowns than any QB in his career.

The numbers listed above don’t even include Kirk’s game-winning touchdown to Rudolph vs the Saints in overtime, which advanced them to the divisional round in the 2019 playoffs.

.@Vikings FANS, YOU JUST WALKED OFF AGAINST THE SAINTS IN THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN THANKS TO KYLE RUDOLPH, AND IT'S STILL EVEN BETTER WITH TITANIC MUSIC #SKOL #NFLPlayoffs #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/d2jLB4RJOL

— Jack (@JWillsNH) January 5, 2020

Sam Bradford played with Rudolph for less time and threw him less balls. Bradford also faced a small percentage of the criticism that Cousins has dealt with during his three seasons, and Kirk actually stays on the field. Yet, Rudolph mentioned the off-field noise Bradford had to deal with… and didn’t mention Cousins at all.

I’m not suggesting that Rudolph hates Kirk Cousins. But when Kirk came to town, Kyle was supposed to be one of the largest beneficiaries, given Cousins’ great history with TE1’s of his past. Instead, #82 saw his targets and routes diminish during Kirk’s tenure, while the Vikings turned him into a blocking tight end.

No Ponder either

It should also be noted that Rudolph never mentioned his first Minnesota Vikings QB, Christian Ponder. Say what you want about Ponder, but he QB’d Rudolph’s first Pro Bowl season in 2012 and in that same year, Christian threw him the most single-season touchdowns of any QB of his career (9).

From our "We're Telling you for the Last Time" Series-the last time the #vikings scored a TD vs every NFL team. Today, it's the last TD scored vs the 49ers (#30) Sept 23, 2012. Christian Ponder to Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph catches 6; Ponder a 95 QB rating. @cponder7 @KyleRudolph82 pic.twitter.com/YpPltqkT0m

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) July 15, 2018

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

For those of you still riding the “trade Kirk Cousins bandwagon”, I have a proposal for you. What if the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings came together for a blockbuster that landed “The Chosen One” (Teddy Bridgewater) back in purple, along with the #8 overall pick in April’s draft?

This idea sprouted from a reported trade offer made by the Panthers to the Detroit Lions for QB Matthew Stafford, before he was ultimately traded to the LA Rams. Stafford is arguably a worse QB than Cousins.

During trade talks to try to acquire Matthew Stafford, the Carolina Panthers made a serious offer to the Lions of their eighth overall pick, a fifth-round pick and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, per league sources. Detroit opted to take the Rams offer. Carolina still looking.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2021

Trade idea:

•Kirk Cousins to Carolina
•Teddy Bridgewater, the 8th pick, and a 5th round pick to Minnesota

Then when draft time rolls around… haha https://t.co/rv8aH7Jn66 pic.twitter.com/gvYHAwmMjb

— Cooper (sports fan) (@CoopCarlson) February 8, 2021

Why this trade makes sense

First, this would make Mike Zimmer the happiest man alive. Not only would he get his favorite QB back in purple, but the Vikings would add future cap space flexibility and he could draft an elite defender with the additional pick.

Second, Klint Kubiak was promoted to offensive coordinator today, which basically confirms the Vikings will have a similar offensive system, one that relies heavily on the run, ranking in the top 6 for rushing percentage the past two seasons.

Why pay a quarterback $30+ million if you’re going to run the ball all the time? Instead, it might make more sense to trade for Bridgewater who makes roughly $10 million less to the cap this year and $20 million less in 2022.

Here is the cap situation for both of their contracts. Realistically, the trade would have to be completed by March 17th so Cousins 2022 salary doesn’t lock in with the Vikings.

Third, everyone loves draft picks! With this trade, Zimmer gets his quarterback and more defensive flexibility. Spielman gets, not only a first round pick, but a fifth rounder too. Maybe Rick can even flip that fifth for a couple of seventh rounders!

In all seriousness, these two picks would be great for Minnesota. They could address two big needs in the first round, whether it’s offensive/defensive line or in the secondary.

This trade could be a win for both sides. Carolina gets a quarterback on the same level as what they were seeking in Stafford. Minnesota would get additional puzzle pieces to fill in their many offseason holes.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan

To my surprise, there was an actual football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers attached to Teddy Bridgewater’s Minneapolis return over the weekend. I guess I missed that in between all the “Mike Zimmer + Teddy Bridgewater: A Match Made in Heaven” fluff pieces I read last week. Kirk Cousins was aware at least.

Unlike me, Cousins had better things to do than to read about how much Mike Zimmer misses having somebody else as his quarterback. Kirk was more concerned with putting the Vikings on his back and leading them to a season-saving win against Bridgewater’s Panthers.

Hopefully, Kirk’s 34/45 (75.5%), 307 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT and game-winning touchdown drive performance will ease Zim’s still-achy-breaky heart. Falling asleep last night and waking up this morning with the Vikings in all of the playoff graphics on NFL Network and ESPN had to help…

Monday is over and the #Vikings are knocking on the playoff door. Things aren't all bad. pic.twitter.com/mD76SIQ4cN

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 1, 2020

Teddy on the other hand…

The guy that Minnesota Vikings media was fawning over all of last week wasn’t able to tie a bow on the Cinderella comeback story they were trying to write. Teddy Bridgewater looked uncomfortable in the pocket all afternoon, his deep ball was wobbly and he was inaccurate at all levels.

If it hadn’t been for a gift from Mike Zimmer, that turned a 5-yard crossing route into a 60-yard TD, his QBR would’ve been comparable to the practice squad QB who started for Denver. When the game was over, Bridgewater finished 19/36 for 267 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.

In 2020, Kirk and Teddy’s stats actually look pretty similar but you didn’t need any binoculars to see the difference between the two on Sunday. Even Cousins’ pocket awareness, which is normally his biggest weak spot, looked better. He was calmly dancing away from pressure and even took off for first downs when necessary.

But really, the difference between Kirk Cousins and Teddy Bridgewater gets wider as you zoom out on the two careers. Teddy’s injury history isn’t his fault, but it’s his history nonetheless. Meanwhile, Cousins has become one of the few iron-man quarterbacks of NFL history.

Kirk came into the league before Teddy but sat behind Robert Griffin III in Washington for three seasons, before he took over as the full-time starter. By the time he did, it was 2015 and Bridgewater already had 12 starts under his belt from his 2014 rookie campaign. To that point, Cousins only had 9 starts. Here are where the two careers were back then vs where they sit now.

Prior to 2015 Season

Full Career

But Teddy is a leader and a winner…

He’s a winner? Huh… I guess his 25-20 career record as a starter is technically a winning one. But Bridgewater hasn’t won a playoff game yet and has only 145 yards passing during the only one he played in.

We know Teddy is a great locker room guy. That fact cannot be denied. Just open a Minnesota sports page from last week to find out… but that hasn’t proven to mean anything, to this point in his career.

Everyone wants to rip on Kirk Cousins’ leadership, myself included, but Kirk is the only one of these two QB’s who has a playoff win and he’s the only one who’s lead a game-winning drive in a big playoff game (for the Minnesota Vikings).

As far as leadership and Kirk Cousins relate, I’ll let his teammate Chad Beebe do the talking.

Chad Beebe for the "Kirk Cousins isn't a leader" crowd: pic.twitter.com/Wtw92xiZVD

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 1, 2020

I like Teddy Bridgewater too and I’m glad he recovered from what looked like a career-ending injury at one point… but he really can’t hold the jock strap of Kirk Cousins and Mike Zimmer should stop pretending like he can.

Give me Kirk every time.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan